Florida Department of Health Helps Receive Dental Services

According to recent surveys, the first thing people notice when they meet someone is their smile. This is why good oral care is important to a person’s wellness and health. Some of the benefits of good oral care include being able to land jobs and eating proper diet.

The Polk county Indigent Health Care division knows the importance of proper healthcare for the low income population. It has partnered with the Florida Department of Health and the Central Florida Health Care to increase the number of dental offices in Polk County that provide free or low cost dental maintenance for people who can’t afford it.

Joy Johnson, interim Indigent Health Care Director for the Polk county Board of County Commissioners, said that the person’s personal and financial health starts with their mouth. The good thing about the deals is that they were allowed to bring together several organizations to provide solutions based on the needs of the community. That’s a big step forward for Polk County to be able to give low income families access to oral health care.

Central Florida Health Care provides dental exams, treatment plans, fillings, restorative care, extractions, x-rays, and cleanings. Funding for the programs is from the Polk County Board of County Commissioners through the Indigent Health Care unit. It is leveraged via a voter approved half cent sales tax. The CFHC operates two dental care clinics in Polk County.

The Florida Department of Health provides services such as extractions, cleanings, examinations, x-rays, and fillings. Its funds come from the half cent sales tax and a Low Income Pool matching grant. The FDOH operates four clinics in Polk County.

The Citizen Healthcare Oversight Committee of Polk County is set to discuss various dental options for the community. The Pol Healthcare Plan maintains a provider network of more than a hundred care providers and 200 specialty care providers.

Photo by Ian W. Anderson. [Public domain], undefined